• How long do I have to complete my certificate program?
  

  You have three calendar years from when you began coursework in order to complete your certificate.

• Is financial aid available?
  

  To be eligible for financial aid, students must be admitted to a program of study leading to a degree or certificate, be attending at least half time (6 credit hours per term), and be taking courses for credit.

  The financial aid process takes an average of three months from application to aid disbursement.

  • Apply for admission to Portland State University
  • Submit a Free Application for Student Financial Aid (FAFSA) form

  To learn more about the Financial Aid process and eligibility requirements please contact the financial aid office at 503-725-3461 or visit www.ess.pdx.edu/fao/howtoapp.htm.

  For information regarding other assistance available, including scholarships, please click here.

• Where do I park and how much does it cost?
• Are classes offered during the day?
  

  It depends upon the program in which the class is offered. Although most courses required for a certificate of completion are offered during the evening, a few are now being offered in more condensed, day and weekend formats. For more information, check the schedule for the course or seminar.

• Do I need to apply to PSU in order to take your classes?
  

  For Professional Development Center programs, admission to PSU is not a prerequisite to enroll in classes. Professional Development Center classes are non-credit offerings; admission is not necessary. Where undergraduate credit is optional (for an additional fee), admission is not necessary if enrolling for less than 8 credits per term.

• Do I have to be enrolled in a certificate program in order to take your classes?
  

  Given that students do not need to meet any prerequisites, courses can be taken individually. There are, however, some discounts for students who enroll for an entire certificate. See specific programs for details.

• What are CEUs?
  

  The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is a nationally recognized method of quantifying the time spent in the classroom during non-credit learning. Ten hours of instruction equal one (1) CEU. The CEU provides a permanent record of the educational accomplishments of an individual who has completed significant non-credit educational and career enhancement experiences.

• Can I audit classes?
  

  Per University policy, the tuition and fees for auditing courses are the same as for taking the courses for credit or non-credit (CEUs), but a student will not earn a Certificate for the course.

  Unregistered participants may not sit in on courses.

  If you are not sure a class is right for you, please contact a program manager to discuss your situation.

• What happens if I need to drop a course?
  

  NONCREDIT REFUND

  Notification received 5 or more business days before start date	Full refund
  1-4 business days before start date	Full refund less $25 processing fee
  On or after course or seminar start date	NO REFUND

  Cancellation notice may be given by phone, but all refund requests must be made in writing before a refund is issued. Please allow 4-6 weeks for processing.

  CREDIT REFUND
  Refund of the credit portion of the fee only is based on the Portland State University fee-refund schedule.

  100% refund	before 1st class meeting
  85% refund	before 2nd class meeting
  50% refund	before 3rd class meeting
  25% refund	before 4th class meeting

  A full refund of credit fee is available only before the first class meeting. If a student is unsure whether to add the credit option, it is the student's responsibility to contact the instructor for specific credit completion requirements prior to the course start. Please call the Professional Development Center for information on how to contact instructors. Allow 4-6 weeks for processing.

  PAYMENT
  Payment for courses and seminars is the responsibility of the student. Full payment or approved company purchase order number must accompany the registration form in order to process registration. If payment on a purchase order is not received, the student is responsible for the balance of the course/seminar fee. Deferred tuition is not available for Professional Development Center courses and seminars.

• What are the policies regarding course cancellation or changes?
  

  If insufficient enrollment or other conditions require cancelling a course, registrants will be notified as soon as possible and fees will be refunded. Changes in course content, instructor, or scheduling are sometimes necessary. Participants will be notified of any changes in scheduling. The Professional Development Center reserves the right, without prior notification to participants, to make whatever changes are deemed necessary for the effective operation of courses and seminars.

• What do you mean by academic credit?
  

  When you sign up for a Professional Development Center course, you may be asked to choose between a "for-credit" and a "non-credit" registration option. Here are some important distinctions to help you decide which option is best for you.

  While the Professional Development Center does not offer degree programs, if a course is taken on a for-credit basis, it may be applicable as elective credit to certain degree programs at PSU or at other institutions. You will need to confirm this with the administrators of the degree program that interests you, in order to determine eligibility.

  Though all Professional Development Center courses help participants gain important knowledge and skills, the for-credit version of a course requires you to demonstrate your competence in a more formal way. When you register for credit, you can expect the instructor to challenge you with a research paper or other project that asks you to apply your learning to a workplace-based situation.

  Another important difference between the for-credit and non-credit options is the record that results upon completion. A credit course is posted to the student's permanent academic transcript, which is kept on file in Portland State University Office of Admissions and Records' Office. A non-credit course results in a certificate of completion given to the participant to document their participation.

  Some employers require students to take a course for credit in order to qualify for tuition reimbursement. Check your employer's reimbursement policy if you think this might affect you.

  If either you or your employer has more specific expectations of our courses, such as the desire to work through a particular workplace challenge as a course project, please call the Professional Development Center office at 503-725-4820 and we'll inform the instructor of your needs.

• How can your programs help with career transitions?
  

  Thousands of adult students nationwide have found that completion of formal training programs, such as our Professional Development Certificates of Completion, can provide an important pathway to career transition. There are numerous programs at Portland State University offering quality training and development. Participants list the following benefits among their reasons for choosing our programs:

  • An accredited four-year university guarantees program quality and continuity
  • Cutting-edge knowledge and skills are taught by University faculty and business leaders
  • The "for-credit" option for some courses smoothes the transition to a degree program
  • Evening courses make it easier for the working professional to attend
  • Short completion time—as little as four months for some programs—is attractive when career transition is desired

  Professional Development Certificates of Completion strengthen your resume and indicate to others that you are a serious professional. For employers, Professional Development certificates can become an important part of a training program or criteria for in-house advancement.

  The Center can also customize an in-house Professional Development program, allowing you to...

  • select a series of courses that addresses the specific needs of your staff
  • create a program that fits your schedule and budget
  • target promising employees early and proactively prepare them for advancement

  Call our programming staff at 503-725-4820 to learn more.

• What are the benefits of working with Portland State University?
  

  Portland State University is a nationally recognized urban university with academic accreditation which assures quality instruction.

  A Single Source for Training - Education is the University's business: you have access to 600 University faculty, over 100 top business practitioners who share their knowledge through teaching, and the broadest possible range of subject matter to meet your training needs.

  A Stable Training Partner - PSU is more than 50 years old, and the School of Extended Studies' Professional Development Center has been proactively meeting your training needs for over 12 years and counting.

  Relevant and Current Curriculum - Our programs are designed to blend traditional theory with cutting-edge "best" practices; we use follow-up, feedback, and continuous monitoring of programs to assure you fresh instruction.

  A Standard of Excellence - Our academic accreditation requires that we provide the community with quality education, and we work to uphold this standard Value to Employers and Employees. University instruction is valued by employees: when you offer it to them, we promise to make your investment worthwhile by delivering the highest quality instruction.

  Customer Service - Our immediate and attentive response will please you . . . you need it, and we deliver it.

  Certification and Documentation - the University's professional development programs, onsite training, and seminars not only build upon existing skills, they also provide individuals with formal documentation of professional skills growth to strengthen their resumés and prepare for career advancement.

  Library - A training relationship with PSU features access to the Branford Millar Library, housing over 1 million bound volumes, and PORTALS, an online service that combines the resources of academic, public, and private libraries in the Northwest.

  The Urban Mission - We have a reputation to live up to: Portland State is Oregon's Urban University, nationally recognized for development of relevant, applicable knowledge and response to the special needs and interests of organizations in the greater Portland area.

  Your University - Portland State University is a public, nonprofit institution dedicated to education, workforce development, and life-long learning... our motto is Doctrina Urbi Serviat, "Let Knowledge Serve the City."

For additional questions regarding the programs and services offered by the Professional Development Center, contact us at pdc@pdx.edu.